The Chocolate Diet - Can It Be Real?

A chocolate diet? Can something so delicious, so tantalizing actually help you lose weight? Research has recently proven that chocolate is good for you, but a diet aid? Come on...get real!

Here are some highlights on how we got to what we now know as chocolate and how it's use has changed through the centuries.

We say the chocolate is the "food of the gods" because of the mayan people.

The Classic Period Maya (250-900 C.E. [A.D.]) were the first people clearly known to have discovered the secret of cacao. The Maya and their ancestors in Mesoamerica took the tree from the rainforest and grew it in their own backyards, where they harvested, fermented, roasted, and ground the seeds into a paste.

When mixed with water, chile peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients, this paste made a frothy, spicy chocolate drink

Historians have found proof that in the 10th century, cocoa beans were used as a form of money by the Aztecs. In fact, all taxes assessed by the powers to be were paid in cocoa beans.

Under the Aztec Emperor Montezuma, the drink made of cocoa beans was reserved for the elite males and warriors. It gave them stamina and endurance to stay out in the sun and heat for hours.

A cup of cocoa allowed the Indians to walk for a whole day through the thickest jungles, in high humidity without food.

Chocolate was intoduced to Europe during the conquest of Mexico in 1521. The Spanish conquistidors recognized the value attached to cacao when they observed the Aztecs. It wasn't long before the Spanish began to ship cacao seeds back home.

Because it was expensive chocolate remained an elite drink and a status symbol for Europe's upper classes for the next 300 years.

The Spanish were the first to doctor up the biter chocolate with cinnamon and other spices and began adding sugar to it.

In 1650 the first chocolate confection was discovered by a French entrepreneur. He was making it at his home and he could not keep it in stock. His primary customers at the time were women.

It was about 1766 when John Hanan brought the highly prized cocoa beans from the West Indies to America. He knew of the medicinal qualities of cocoa because he had heard about miracles that were happening in Europe. John and his best friend James Baker, a physician, started the first American chocolate factory in North America, in about 1770.

Their intention was to manufacture chocolate remedies for certain illnesses like rheumatism and gout. Baker's chocolate is still in existence today, owned by General Foods Corporation.

The Industrial Revolution witnessed the development of an enormous number of new mechanical inventions and ushered in the era of the factory. The steam engine made it possible to grind cacao and produce large amounts of chocolate cheaply and quickly.

In 1828 Hendrick Van Houten from Amsterdam, Holland
invented what was called the cocoa press. This invention opened up another incredible cost effective process, which helped reduce the price of cocoa even further.

It squeeze out some of the cocoa butter, this is the naturally occurring fat that is in cocoa beans and it also allowed the cocoa beans to be ground more evenly and finer giving chocolate drinks a smooth consistency and the pleasing flavor we taste today.

He also inved a process now call "Dutching" where chocolate liquor or cocoa powder is treated with alkaline slts to make it darket in color and milder in flavor.

Then in 1880 or so Henri Nestle and Daniel Peter invented milk chocolate. The commercial manufacturing process of Nestle reduced the production costs and allowed all levels of society to enjoy chocolates.

Then all sorts of chocolate novelties became trendy mostly targeted toward choldren. Candy bars like the Milky Way and Mars bars were big hits. And we still see these candy bars today along with the Hershey bar, and many other chocolate candy treats. Chocolate is also offered as cookies, cakes, creme pie, cereal, drinks and ice cream.

As you can see noble chocolate went from being the food of warriors and the elite, to being junk food for children. No wonder people laugh when it's suggested that chocolate makes a viable diet food. Candy makers would have you believe that their chocolate candy is good for you when it's mostly just sugar and fat.

The research has been done on dark, unprocessed chocolate and that is the only chocolate that has these proven results. Once the chocolate has been dutched or processed, no claims can be tied into the researched results. Don't be fooled. While your milk chocolate candy bars and kisses might taste good, they aren't diet worthy.

Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants nearly 10 times the number found in strawberries and raspberries. Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxideand balance certain hormones in the body especially those affecting the brain.

Dark Chocolate contains 4-5 times the anti-oxidants found in Green Tea. When researchers found this out it came as quite a surprise. This was the conclusion of a recent study by Holland's National Institute Of Public Health and Environment. Researchers found that chocolate, specifically dark chocolate - contains 53.5 mg of catechins per 100 grams. (Catechins arethe powerful anti-oxidants that fight against cancer-causing cells and help prevent heart disease).

By contrast, 100Green Tea contained 13.9 mgs of catechins. The amount of 13.9 is remarkably high, but imagine 53.5! Cocoa and dark chocolate have recently been extensively studied. The fat in chocolate is primarily derived from cocoa. It is comprised of two saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic acids, and the monosaturated oleic acid. It is these acids that have prevented chocolate from raising blood cholesterol.

Click Here" for more information on healthy chocolate that can help you lose weight

Well, as it turns out, dark chocolate does have health benefits. It's been discovered that the healthiest, nutrient-dense dark chocolates have about 70% to 75% cocoa content.

Research continues on chocolate and it's been found that chocolate contains antioxidants such as phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids. Researchers have concluded that chocolate with at least 70% pure cocoa powder contains the most health enhancing benefits.

Here is a list of the most nutritious foods promoted today along with their ORAC values. These values measure the antioxidant value of a given food as calculated by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Ponder this rating list; nothing else even comes close to matching chocolate

1. Dark chocolate 13,120
2. Milk chocolate 6,740
3. Prunes 5,770
4. Raisins 2,830
5. Blueberries 2,400
6. Blackberries 2,
7. Kale 1,770
8. Strawberries 1,540
9. Spinach 1,260
10. Raspberries
11. Brussels sprouts 980
12. Plums 949
13. Alfalfa sprouts 930
14. Broccoli 890

As you can see, dark, healthy chocolate" is off the chart compared to the other foods. No wonder it's been used for centuries as a food and for energy.

Does that mean that we chocoholics can just go hog wild and indulge our chocolate fantasies?

Well...not exactly.

Click the link below for more information on a healthy chocolate supplement that can curb your appetite and help you lose weight easier than you ever thought possible.

Knowing that healthy dark chocolate has numerous healthy benefits that are too good to pass up, you can now get a delicious dark chocolate supplement that blends quality dark chocolate with healthy amino acids, B vitamins and other nutrients to help:
Curb hunger
Boost energy
Support mental focus
Promote calm

These delightful morsels are the perfect accompaniment for your healthy diet on Cleanse Days - or any day! Just the chocolates alone can help you tame an unruly appetite and that can make all the difference when you're losing weight.

Here's what some people had to say.

"I have now been savoring these delicious morsels for several days -- courtesy of the company. On my goodness! I took small bites of one of the IsaDelight rich chocolate chunks and let each nibble dissolve slowly in my mouth -- so delicious I felt like I must be"cheating"!

With one IsaDelight in the morning and one in the
afternoon, I absolutely sailed through my 2 day cleanse -- the easiest one ever in the 5 years I've been using the Cleansing & Fat-burning System to maintain a lean and clean body. The next day on my Shake and Meal Day, I had to keep reminding myself to eat so I wouldn't slow down my rate of fat burning -- that is a huge switch for me. By late evening, I was still full of energy and in a great mood -- definitely NOT dragging around. Thank you Isagenix -- another HOME RUN!" Elisabeth Andersen

"I took one chocolate mid-morning and one mid-afternoon when I was on a 2 day cleanse recently, and wasn't even hungry, and felt SOOO good, I wanted to continue cleansing another day, but Don wouldn't let me. I was calm, relaxed, had energy for my exercises, and was VERY impressed with the way I felt. This is going to
revolutionize our already unique cleanse." LaRee Nooner

"I am not a chocolate lover and so was very skeptical about this new item. Yesterday, I took my time when given my first piece of IsaDelight to try and yet I was very pleased with the taste. I would take a small bite, then let the candy actually dissolve on my tongue. I took probably 15 minutes to consume the whole piece. About 30 minutes later, I was driving down the road towards my office when I felt a really odd thing -- my stomach felt as though I had just pushed back from a very large Thanksgiving dinner - including pecan pie! I was amazed since I had just had one small piece of candy and a protein shake a couple of hours earlier for breakfast -- I was 110% full.

"As each hour passed, I was amazed as I continued to feel full and not want a thing. My stomach growled and I finally decided, 6 hours after that piece of IsaDelight, that I "best eat lunch!" Instead of a full salad as planned, I enjoyed an avocado with wheat crackers and was again full. Four hours later, the only meal I was ready to go for was another shake - and then headed to bed soon after.

Unlike my usual up and down all night, when I finally rolled over and glanced at the clock, it was seven hours later! Amazing! I didn't even feel like racing to the kitchen for food like I do most mornings. When I stepped on the scales, I was down almost 2 pounds... Now I only have one thing left to ask... WHERE CAN I GET MORE OF THAT ISADELIGHT CHOCOLATE?" Pamela Fahey

(These testimonials are from distributors of the product.

Click the link below for more information on healthy chocolate that can help you lose weight too, just like these people did.

Chocolate is an aphrodiasic...fact or fiction?

Is there truth to the belief that chocolate is an aphrodiasic? Does this rich, flavorful confection also have the power to turn up the heat?

In a British study couples were observed as they ate squares of dark chocolate while they engaged in passionate kissing. In comparing the men o the women, the men got trompled!!!

We women had heart rates that rose 20 percent more and our bodies released four times the endorphins when we ate the chocolate rich with 65% cacao.

Isadelights are made with dark chocolate and they have feel good nutrients added to give your mood an added boost. Will they turn up the heat? I don't know. Conduct your own experiment with Isadelights!

We're discovering new things about chocolate all the time. Studies show that dark chocolate contains flavanoids that may keep blood pressure down and help blood flow. It also contains potassium and magnesium, vitamins B1, B2, D, and E.

Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter, serotonin, that acts as an anti-depressant.

Chocolate also does a magic trick inyour brain. At least that's what I call it.

Believe it or not, your brain cells have a receptor for THC. In case you didn't know, that's the active ingredient iin marijuana.

So you might rightfully ask yourself why? Well, it turns out that your brain produces a chemical that also binds to that THC receptor and produces effects similar to those of THC. This chemical is called anandamide.

This receptor changes your perception of everything. You feel great, the world looks better, feels better and time no longer flies...or does it? Well, when you're in that state, who cares. Right?

Except that this anandamide, like other neurotransmitters, breaks down soon after it's produced. So sad.

Now this is where chocolate does it's trick.

Danielle Piomelli, a researcher at the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego found that chocolate inhibits the destruction of anandamide. In other words, chocolate makes your feel good moments last.

Now if that ain't a reason to grab a chocolate morsel" and start singing "Imagine", I don't know what is.

So what are you waiting for?

Is it all goodness and bliss with dark chocolate or is there something else you should know about chocolate. Chocolate contains several substances that are catagorized as xanthines.

The first substance is caffeine, the same thing that is in coffee that gets you going in the morning. There is less caffeine in chocolate, about 5-10 milligrams per ounce, than coffee, 80 to 150 milligrams per average serving, but still it's there. So if you're sensitive to caffeine, you may have a sensitivity to chocolate. It's also something you may want to think about the next time you buy a chocolate bunny for a child. Children just don't need the stimulation.

The second substance in chocolate that may concern you is theophylline which will stimulate the central nervous system, relax the bronchi in the lungs and your blood vessels. Theophylline also occurs naturally in tea. So if you are taking any medication you should speak to your health care professional about eating chocolate.

There is also something in chocolate called theobrime which rises low blood sugar levels. This chemical can actually be poisonous to animals such as cats and dogs because thier liver is unable to process it.

Throughout history chocolate has been used as an energy source and theobrime seems to be the reason. Napolean brought chocolate on his military campaigns. Nowadays athletes are given chocolate after sporting events. Even raw chocolate is processed to the point that there is only a low level of theobrime in it. Still, some people are sensitive to theobrime.

Most people have no problems with chocolate. Still, it's good to do all things in moderation. When in doubt, ask your doctor.